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Topic: MAQS Treatment for Swarms (Read 8208 times)

>Question: what are the negative aspects or consequences to using each of these products mentioned - Apiguard, Apivar, Mite-Away, and so forth?

Apigaurd = thymol = essential oil. Very temperature dependent. Broad spectrum microbial that kills the necessary microbes in the colony. Runs the bees out the door on a hot day.

Apivar=Amitraz= an insecticide, relabeled as an acaracide. It's been in heavy use (illegally) by the commercial beekeepers since the Varroa arrived. It builds up in the wax. Causes sterility in queens and drones. Shortens the life of bees. The Varroa have had two decades to build up resistance to it.

All of the treatments will affect one or more of the above. Amitraz will kill the beneficial and benign mites and insects, e.g. psudoscorpians etc. So will Fluvalinate (Apistan) and Cumophos (Checkmite). The organic acids and essential oils will wipe out the entire spectrum of microorganisms and probably many of the mites and insects as well.

So basically, one would not want to be using these treatments on a continual basis, but rather mostly in emergent or dire circumstances.

it is controvesy. They are for continual usage.

European Union Varroa Group started to sieve the best mite killing methods 1998.2003 they had tested the best methods and work was ready about 2006.

Best modern methods are thymol, formic acid and oxalic acid. These are widely used now in Europe 10-15 years. Nothing new methods have not been invented since then.

Canada accepted this system one year ago even if it has been known 10 years.i have teached these things in Beemaster about 7 years, without much results.

There are about 140 chemical treatment against varroa and beeks do not much mind what they push into hives. They just don't know what they are doing. "I heard" is the best reason to use it. "it is tested" - it means nothing.

>So basically, one would not want to be using these treatments on a continual basis, but rather mostly in emergent or dire circumstances.

I never use any of them.

What have been your average percentage losses over the last few years?

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"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

So basically, one would not want to be using these treatments on a continual basis, but rather mostly in emergent or dire circumstances.

it is controvesy. They are for continual usage.

European Union Varroa Group started to sieve the best mite killing methods 1998.2003 they had tested the best methods and work was ready about 2006.

Best modern methods are thymol, formic acid and oxalic acid. These are widely used now in Europe 10-15 years. Nothing new methods have not been invented since then.

Canada accepted this system one year ago even if it has been known 10 years.i have teached these things in Beemaster about 7 years, without much results.

There are about 140 chemical treatment against varroa and beeks do not much mind what they push into hives. They just don't know what they are doing. "I heard" is the best reason to use it. "it is tested" - it means nothing.

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It is illegal to use an unapproved treatment in the US.

I may have read incorrectly, but I seem to remember seeing that some of the treatments we're discussing are thymol or oxalic-based, yes? Apiguard and MiteAway?

"Good will is the desire to have something else stronger and more beautiful for this desire makes oneself stronger and more beautiful." - Eli Siegel, American educator, poet, founder of Aesthetic Realism

This forum is full of all kind of mite killing procedures, and no one is in jail.

It's not illegal to talk about unapproved treatments; just to actually use them.

I'm sure those treatments you mentioned, if effective, will be legal in the US eventually. Right now, they're simply not available here, so in the meantime we'll use others. Most people who have used the treatments we've discussed here came away with living colonies, so they can serve at least for now.

This forum is full of all kind of mite killing procedures, and no one is in jail.

It's not illegal to talk about unapproved treatments; just to actually use them.

I'm sure those treatments you mentioned, if effective, will be legal in the US eventually. Right now, they're simply not available here, so in the meantime we'll use others. Most people who have used the treatments we've discussed here came away with living colonies, so they can serve at least for now.

heh heh heh

i was in NZ beekeeping forum. They discussed there how oxalic acid trickling is that and that.I went there to tell how the stuff works . They got nervous because I spoke against their opinions. They just did not know how to use it. I had used it 8 years.

Then I told that they in use trickling in swarms and artificial swarms.

Then they banned me because artificial swarms are illegal in NZ second thing, I recommended illegal method to be used.

One wrote that artificial swarms are illegal as a treatment of AFB, but not prevent swarming.Then we noticed that oxalic acid is in a list of allowed stuff.

Finally I noticed that it is vain to teach perfect idiots and they continues their stupid information session..

.I just read that only accepted mite killer in USA is Apistan stips, and we know that there are mites have high resistancy against it.

Where did you read that? I'm sure what you read must have been mistaken or outdated. As an American, from American beekeeping supply companies targeted at American beekeepers, right now I can buy Apistan and Checkmite, as well as Hopguard, Apiguard (thymol), MiteAway (formic acid), ApiVar (amitraz), as well as any number of IPM components. These are blatantly advertised as explicitly for Varroa mite control, which would not be permitted if these treatments were not legal.

I usually wait until August.I usually do the sugar roll test and uncapped drone brood.Before I treat with Formic acid I watch the weather and when I'm going to have 6 days or so temperatures below 90 degrees F. I treat.I treat for 5 days only then remove the patties.You will have a fairly high mortality rate on the old bees but you'll have young bees, brood, and eggs coming on.This spring the inspector checked my hives on each of my bee yards.I had strong colonies with drone crawling around March 4.I had no signs of varroa mites.I had signs of hive beetles.My hives are very strong now.Formic Acid is very strong, wear a respirator, and wear chemical type gloves.All I can say is my colonies are in very good shape.February 15th I started with sugar syrup 1-1 with Pro Health supplement and pollen/protein patties.

Where did you read that? I'm sure what you read must have been mistaken or outdated. As an American, from American beekeeping supply companies targeted at American beekeepers, right now I can buy Apistan and Checkmite, as well as Hopguard, Apiguard (thymol), MiteAway (formic acid), ApiVar (amitraz), as well as any number of IPM components. These are blatantly advertised as explicitly for Varroa mite control, which would not be permitted if these treatments were not legal.

it is good that you need not to waste your energy with illegal issues. It is not my problem.

I read 2010 paper.

The basic is how good is the information when you use those stuffs.

.Guys are fond on product names when something new comes to market.However it may have 20 years experience about basic stuff, like about formic acid.

MAny of the products are approved on a state by stae basis.Not all products need federal approval. There is no money to be made for someone to have oxalic acid approved which is why you do not see supply houses pushing for approval.

Aww come on; you just don't have enough vision. There shouldn't have been any money in formic acid, since anyone can just get some formic acid from a non-beekeeping supplier and use it, right? But, presto - Mite Away formic acid treatment. There shouldn't be any money in sugar; it's a very common grocery store item. But, beekeeping suppliers offer it!

When oxalic acid is approved, something similar to Mite Away will come about. It might just be evap pads, specially designed to fit in Langstroth hives. Or it might be the acid in combination with some other treatment - introducing MelliFree strips, the all-in-one total mite solution, featuring oxalic acid and menthol for control of Varroa and tracheal mites in one convenient treatment! A little imagination goes a long way.